Stephen Michell

Profile on Twelve Platoon Stephen Michell

A detailed account of the Canadian run-up to the Dieppe Raid, the invasion and life in the P. O. W. camp. The daring escape of 52 soldiers under the noses of their German captors with the assistance of the camp kregie band of which my father was part. It details the relocation of prisoners to Castle Brewery to prevent further escapes. Molsdorf was a transfer camp where prisoners were segregated and sent to other camps based on their countries of service, branch of the forces they represented and their rank. Many fliers from the R. A. F. passed through on their way to Stalag Luft III (the site of the historically tragic 'Great Escape'). Many of the tunneling techniques used there, were learned in Molsdorf. It was the escape at Molsdorf that led Hitler to order that escape prisoners be shot as spies. Hence the bitter ending to the British fliers. As the allied troops crept ever closer, it was decreed that the Stalags be emptied and a forced march in and around Germany to stay ahead of Patton's 3rd Army liberators be mounted. In this account, you will find many humorous exploits the soldiers embarked upon during their training as well as the antics the P. O. W's pulled to get under the skin of their German captors. The demoralization of the German guards is evident in Dad's words as desperation mounts and the circle closes. By the end, the kreigies appear to be running the asylum. Intermingled is the sad reality of their plight. It is a must read for buffs of WWII adventures and historians alike!